Thank you, Oregon Trail

Thanks to Tim Stahmer’s Assorted Stuff post, I learned that the Oregon Trail computer game is celebrating its 50th birthday. To that game and AppleWriter, I owe my career.

In 1981, I was in my third year teaching in the small town of West Branch, Iowa, just outside Iowa City where I had graduated with my master’s degree in library science. I was teaching 7th grade English for half the day and was the junior high librarian for the other half. This year the junior high moved into the old high school building and the high school moved into their brand new building.

One fateful decision the school board made the previous spring was that the junior high should have “a computer.” Since they used the library budget to buy the Apple II computer and printer, I argued the computer should be in the library. I never used an office as a school librarian, so I made a mini-computer lab in that small room. 

I had had only a single one-credit course in BASIC programming in graduate school, but I fell in love with AppleWriter. I always loved to write; my old keyboarding skills I learned in high school came back to me (a bit); and composing knowing I could easily edit was great. My poor English students didn’t have to put up with my poor handwriting on their study guides and tests anymore. And I could save them to update and use them in following years.

The little computer lab proved to be popular, of course, with my 7th and 8th graders. During library time and after school, the tiny room was often packed with kids playing not just Oregon Trail, but Number Munchers, Odell Lake, and Lemonade Stand. (And Eamon, if anyone remembers that line-based adventure game.) And I became the computer go-to person.

And not just for the kids, but the teachers and principal too. I remember teaching the principal how to use the Visicalc spreadsheet so he could easily run budget numbers, especially during teacher negotiations. And I could teach others how to format floppy disks!

The experience taught me that being a librarian did not mean I only took care of books and other print materials - something that many librarians never realized, I’m afraid. I learned that one did not need to be a programmer to use a computer productively - that it could be used by lovers of words just as much as by lovers of numbers.

As most readers probably know, my career evolved into being a district technology/library director - one I found immensely satisfying, despite often being at philosophical odds at times with fellow tech directors who came from math or tech backgrounds. My approach tended to be more user-oriented than machine-oriented.

Anyway, thank you, Oregon Trail, for helping me find my own path, ford my own streams, and avoiding dysentery. Well, maybe not writing dysentery. 

The cross in the corner

 A guide here in Cuenca pointed out a cross similar to the one above painted in the corner where two buildings come together. He asked if I knew why it was there.

 I did not.

“It is to stop men from urinating in this corner. You will see many around town,” he explained.

While I am not overly religious, this method of getting me to pee somewhere else would work just fine. As would a Star of David or the name of Allah painted in such places.

Why tempt fate?

Is it an ache or an itch?

Ache: a continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body.

Itch: an uncomfortable sensation on the skin that causes a desire to scratch.

All travel involves some degree of discomfort. While indeed I can be uncomfortable in the recliner of my own living room, somehow travel exacerbates it, especially when in areas and situations that may be quite different from home.

On this trip to Ecuador, I’ve experienced both aches and itches. 

Sitting in a canoe for long stretches, standing for a long period while a guide helpfully explains the medicinal properties of a plant or mating habits of an animal, and hikes over uneven terrain, produce a low pain in the muscles of the back and legs. My lungs ache some from the high altitude and air filled with volcanic ash requiring additional breaths needed to climb hills and even stairs. Over all, my journey thus far has been blessedly free of aches, not keeping me from either sleeping or limiting my physical activities.

Perhaps more annoying are the itches I’ve needed to scratch. Small thorns made my palms itch. Seawater when snorkeling made my body itchy at times. I’ve gotten a couple bug bites. But perhaps the worst is the irritation caused by continuous mask wearing behind my ears and under my chin(s). Itches also make me worry about the effect of scratching those irritations. Am I only making the itch worse by applying fingernails to temporarily relieve the problem?

Neither my aches or itches have been severe enough to demand medicinal intervention. I haven’t taken Tylenol or applied Anti-Monkey Butt Powder (much) to relieve the problems. For that I am grateful.

While aching and itching are normally thought of as physical problems, I find some of psychological discomforts can also be defined as an ache or an itch.

My own mental aches include wondering if I have led a good life. Have I been fair to my children, lovers, and friends - or have I been too selfish? Am I kind enough, generous enough, humble enough? Have I contributed in a meaningful way to my profession? Will I be able to remain productive as I age? Thankfully, these psychic aches have not required mental painkillers - no sleeping pills, illicit drugs, or electroshock therapy. I do like my wine, but I don’t think of it as a painkiller, but perhaps I am deluding myself.

My mental itches are more specific and perhaps harder to deal with. Should I buy that new shirt (although I have plenty in my closet)? Do I eat that fast food hamburger or bowl of ice cream (knowing I need to control my weight)? Is planning my next trip just scratching my itch of needing to see new places, have new experiences (although I have been fortunate enough to travel worldwide)? Why do I have to scratch my curiosity to check my investment account so often (even though I have no immediate need for the funds in it)? I don’t know if there is a psychological version of benadryl to make me less needful of impulsively scratching these irritations other than awareness of them and practicing self control.  Or perhaps I just need counseling.

Now that I’ve satisfied my writing itch for today, my aching body will do a bit of reading.